System of power transmission.



V. G. APPLE.

SYSTEM 0F POWER TRANSMISSION. APPLICATI'ON F1150 11111119.1914.

'Patented-1p1. 311, 1918.

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SYSTEM OF POWER TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I9. |914.

Patented. Apr. 30, T918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

VINCENT G. APPLE,

0F DAYTON, OHIO.

SYSTEM 0F POWER TRANSMISSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3U, Minid.

Application tiled January 19, 1914. Serial No. 812,981.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT G. APPLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of PowerTransmission, of which the following isa specification.

@ne of the objects of my invention is to provide a new, useful andvaluable systeml of power transmission, consisting of a series ofassociated coperating devices and parts, especially well adapted for usein automobile constructions.

Another object of my invention is tocondense, unify, and cheapen thecost of production of the power-producing and transmitting mechanism ofsuch vehicles, as by the direct arrangements of the parts, in the mannerhereinafter disclosed, to thereby increase the efficiency of the system,as a whole.

Other and further objects of 'my invention will become readily apparentto persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the followingdescription when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device, a part of which is shown insection;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal, central section of the major partof the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line 3 -3 of Fig. `1;and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on either of the lines 4-4 of Fig.2.

'Tn all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicatesimilar parts.

There is inclosed in the casingv 10 an electric motor, or other sourceof power; speed changin gearing; equalizing 4mechanism and a oatingshaft' extending from each end thereof for connection Withthe tractionwheels of a vehicle. Therefore, this casing incloses all of themechanism and devices necessary for eciently imparting power to thetraction wheels of the vehicle. Tn other words, the casing incloses thecomplete power plant with all of the necessary mechs anism. This powerplant being self-contained may conveniently be supported entirely uponthe traction wheels of a vehicle, in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed.

Specifically, 11 is a cylindrical casing provided with end fianges 12and 13. Bearing plates, or disks 14 and 15, are secured to therespective ends of the casing.4 Housing caps or heads 16 and 17 are alsosecured to the Wheels 24 and 24, respectively, are attached.

The foregoing mentioned parts constitute the casing in which my powerplant is inclosed.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention an electric motor isemployed for delivering the power to the respective traction wheels. Thefield magnet structure 25 is made to rotate in one direction, while thearmature structure 26 is caused to rotate in the opposite direction asusual when such elements are both rotatably supported. `The axle shaft27 isdriven through proper speed changing gearing b the rotation of thefield magnet element, w ile the axle shaft 28 is driven through suitablespeed changinggearing by means -of the armature element.

The construction of the speed changing mechanism is such that the activeshafts 27 and 28 are caused to rotate in the same di rection.

As the torque developed by either of the rotating elements, (either thefield magnet or the armature), is dependent upon the resistance torotation encountered by the other one of said elements, there is therebyinterposed an equalizing eect by the rotating elements, so that if oneof the traction wheels, to which either of the rotating elements beconnected, has imposed thereon a greater friction than the othertraction wheel, as in going around a curve, the traction wheelencountering the least resistance will travel at a higher velocity whilethe one having the greater resistance will remain substantiallystationary or travel at a very much lower velocity, thereby a desirableequalizing eliect is produced. l

The dynamo-electric-machine or motor may be of the bi-polar ormulti-polar type, as desired, the former being shown in the drawings,wherein 25 is the magnetic frame Structure and 29 are the windings orthe field coils which surround the pole pieces 30. I prefer to use abi-polar machine because being of high speed and very light, everythingelse being equal, it will produce more power` per pound of material thanmachines of the multi-polar type, and which rotate at relatively slowerspeed.

The speed-changing mechanism herein has such large capacity as to beequally available in reducing the speed of a high speed motor as if themotor rotated at a relatively lower speed.

The field magnet frame terminates in an end plate 31, at its driving endhaving a hub 32and a concentric portion 33, the latter constituting aportion of the hshaft upon which the field magnet structure rotates. Aprojection 34 is eccentric to the axis of the shaft of the field magnetstructure and'by this eccentric portion, coperating with the otherportion of the gearing, the speed of the field magnet structure 1svreduced in its transition from the dynamo element to the active shaft27 In the hub 14 of the bearing plate 14 is located a bearing ring 35which, with'the bearing rings 36 and the balls 37,- constitute thebearing support for the field magnet structure in the frame 10. By thismeans the power end of the rotating field magnet is supported.

The active shaft 27 is provided with a concentric portion 38` whichcarries a bearing ring 39 coperating with the bearing ring 40 and theballs 41. The bearing ring 40 1s secured in the hub'16 of the head 16.This affords a bearin for the inner end of the shaft 27. The s aft 27terminates in the casing 10 in an enlar ed disk 42 having an overhanginginternal? -toothed rim 43. Loosely supported in the inter-dental spaceof the'gear 43 is a spur gear wheel 44,

which is provided with a less number of teeth than is contained in theassociate geared element 43. In the illustrated embodiment the internalgear wheel 43 is provided with 25 teeth while the pinion 44 is providedwith 23 teeth, therefore, the reduction of speed between the element 25and the shaft 27 will be in the ratio as 25 is to 2.

'The pinion 44 is perforated, as at 45, and is thus loosely supported onstuds 46 that are secured to the field end plate 14. These studs,therefore, are fixed and are not rotatable, but permit a certain limitedfree movement of the floating pinion 44.

Mounted on the eccentric 34 is a bearing ring 47 having bearing relationwith the ring 48 that is fixed in the pinion 44 and with the balls 49that are contained between the rings 47 and 48. The studs 46 permitconsiderable lateral movement, in all directions, of the pinion 44 whenthe eccentric 34 is rotated, but prohibit the pinion 44 from rotatingwith the eccentric. Now it is evident that when the eccentric 34 isrotated, the eccentrically operated fioating pinion will be laterallymoved in every di rection and produce a wedging effect between the teethof said pinion and those of the internal gear 43, and the ratio ofrotation of the gear 43 with reference to the rotation of the eccentric34 will be as 2 is to 25, or in other words, it will take twelve and onehalf revolutions of the eccentric 34 and, therefore, of the fieldelement, to produce one revolution of the gear 43 and thereby of thedriven shaft 27.

The armature shaft 50 at its rear end is provided with a bearingconsisting of the rings 51, 52 and the balls 53. This bearing isinterposed between the parts 50 of the armature shaft and the rotatingportion 31 of the field magnet frame.

The commutator end is provided with a bearing comprising the rings 35and 36 and the balls 37 in the fixed bearing disk 15 of the frame andthe end 31', of the field magnet frame, is provided with a bearing forthe armature shaft comprising the rings 54 and 55 and the balls 56.

The eccentric portion 57 of the shaft 50 operates the speed-changingmeans on the commutator end of the structure. This speed-changinggearing means is substantially the same as that which is contained atthe rear end of the armature, and which has heretofore been described,with the exception that in the armature end the studs 46 are free torotate and the internal gear member is fixed'to the casing, by thismeans,

the rotating elements that are connected to the shafts 27 and 28 arecaused to move in the same directions as will be clearly understood.

The shaft 28 is enlarged, as at 42', which enlargement carries therotating studs 46. This portion of the apparatus is connected directlyto, or is a part of, the active shaft 28.

A commutator 58 is secured to the shaft 50 and is connected in the usualmanner to the armature 26. Conducting brushes 59-59, of which there aretwo, only one being shown in the drawings, are secured in the usualmanner to the studs 60. These studs bear the' commutator brushes and areinsulatedly supported on the yoke 61, which latter is carried by thefield magnet structure 25.

Secured to the field magnet structure 25 is a flanged ring 62 whichcarries insulated conducting rings 63 and 64. Studs 67 that areinsulated from and secured to the bearimr plate 15, carry conductingbrushes 65 an 66. The rings 63 and 64 are connected to Lasarte nect tothe brushes 65 and 66, respectively. By this means the windings of therotating armature is electrically connected to the wires 69 and 70. v

'lhe field magnet frame or head 31 carries a flanged ring 73 upon whichis insulatedly fixed conducting rings ,74 and 75. These rings areconnected to the field magnet windings 29 by wires 76 and 77,respectively. Brushes 78 and 79 bearing upon the respective rings andwires 80 and 81, pass through insulating bushings 82 82 and areconnected to the brushes 78 and 79, respectively. lThe brushes aresupported upon the studs .83--83 that are fixed to the head 14 or otherstationary portion of the fra-me, so that communication may be hadthrough the Wires 80 and 81 with the field windings of the rotatingfield. The covering heads 16 and 17 of the frame are provided withhollow hubs 16a and 17a, respectively, into which the fixed tubularaxles consisting of the tubes 19 and 20 are secured. The interiors ofthe tube axles 19 and 20 are somewhat larger than the respective shafts27 and 28, so that the shafts may turn freely therein. They are reducedin diameter, as at 27', to receive the hubs 22--22, the reduced partscarrying ball or roller bearing vmembers 106 and 107, which coperatewith bearing members 108 and 109 that are carried by the hubs, so thatthe hubs rotate freely upon the fixed axles. The hubs and the coperatingparts are duplicates and ll am, therefore, describing the hub 22, thatis illustrated in section in Fig.

1 with the understanding .that the hub 22 shown on the other end of thestructure is practically the same. 'llhe end portions of the hubs 22 and22 are provided with d epressions or recesses 180-180, of which theremay be any desirable number, the drawings showing four, and a plate 181havingprojections 182 that lit in the depressions 180 is secured to theshafts 27 and 28, as by means of keys 183. Nuts 84:-84 are secured onthe threaded ends of the shafts 27 and 28 to retain the plates 181-181in position, and hub caps 85--85 are screwthreaded on the ends of thehubs, as at 86-86, to protect the interiors thereof from dust and otherextraneous influences. It will be manifest, from this arrangement, thatthe power of shafts 27, 28, is conveyed positively tothe hubs. The hubsmay bear friction brake wheels 823-88, as usual, in such structures. Aninner cap 89--89 operates as a dust guard to close the inner ends of thehubs.

While the armature and eld magnets of the dynamo electric machine willrotate in opposite directions with reference to each other, thespeed-changing mechanism is of such character that the shafts 27 and 28will be rotated at like speed in the same direction, so that thetraction Wheels, 24 and 24 ofa moving vehicle will be driven so thateach Wheel will participate in propelling the vehicle in a ivendirection. l

. It is un erstood, of course, that the casing 10 and the fixedaxlescomposed of the tubes 19 and 20 are stationary and that the vehiclebody may rest upon these axles, as 'by spring supports in cases Wherethe axles are stationary and an internal, rotatable, or floating axle,is used to operate the Wheels of, the vehicle. v

While l have herein described a. single embodiment of my invention, itis evident that changes may be made in the shape and location of partswithin the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim. is:

1. A rear axle for a motor vehicle comprising a pair of alining spacedapart tubular vehicle supporting members, cu shaped members formed onlthe inner en tubular member, a separable cylindrical housing of uniformdiameter positioned between the tubular members and connected at itsends to the peripheries .of the cup shaped members; a dynamo electricmachine positioned within the housin and comprising independentlyrotatable eld and armature, vehicle wheel driving shafts carried withinthe tubular members and speed re-` ducing gearing connecting therotatable parts of said dynamo with the shafts and positioned entirelywithin the cup shaped members.

2. VA rear axle for a motor vehicle comprisl in a pair of alining spacedapart tubular of each e ve icle supporting members, cup shaped Y membersformed on the inner end of each tubular member, end walls covering theinner ends of the cup shaped members, a cylindrical housing of uniformdiameter positioned between the tubular members and connected at itsends to the peripheries of the cup shaped members, a dynamo electricmachine positioned Within the housin and comprising independentlyrotatable eld and armature, bearings carried bythe heads for supportingthe rotatable partsof said dynamo, vehicle wheel driving shafts carriedwithin the tubular members and speed reducing gearing connecting therotatable parts of said dynamo with the shafts-and positioned entirelyWithin the cup shaped members.

3. ln a vehicle transmission the combination of a pair of coaxial spacedapart wheel driving shafts, tubular shaft casings carried by the vehicleand having their inner ends spaced apart, a motor housingjoining the ingone member Withone of the shafts, speed reducing gearing connecting theother member with the other shaft, said last mentionedgearingicoinprising an eccentricdriven by In testimony whereof Ihereuntoy set my its respective member, a pinion rotatably hand in thepresence of two witnesses. mounted on the eccentric, a statonaryinternalgear having a greater number of teeth l VINCENT G APPLE than the pinionand meshing therewith, and In the presence ofa pin and slot Connectionbetween the pinion FOWLER S. SMITH,

and its, wheel driving shaft. N. SNYDER.

